What
Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord. It’s an
extremely serious type of physical trauma that’s likely to have a lasting and
significant impact on most aspects of daily life.

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves and other tissue that the
vertebrae of the spine contains and protects. The vertebrae are the bones
stacked on top of each other that make up the spine. The spine contains many
nerves, and extends from the brain’s base down the back, ending close to the
buttocks.

The spinal cord is responsible for sending messages from the
brain to all parts of the body. It also sends messages from the body to the
brain. We are able to perceive pain and move our limbs because of messages sent
through the spinal cord.

If the spinal cord sustains an injury, some or all of these
impulses may not be able to “get through.” The result is a complete or total
loss of sensation and mobility below the injury. A spinal cord injury closer to
the neck will typically cause paralysis throughout a larger part of the body
than one in the lower back area.

How
Do Spinal Cord Injuries Usually Occur?

A spinal cord injury is often the result of an unpredictable
accident or violent event. The following can all result in damage to the spinal
cord:

a violent attack such as a stabbing or a gunshot

diving into water that’s too shallow and hitting
the bottom

trauma during a car accident (specifically
trauma to the face, head and neck region, back, or chest area)

falling from a significant height

head or spinal injuries during sporting events

electrical accidents

severe twisting of the middle portion of the
torso

What
Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Some symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:

problems walking

loss of control of the bladder or bowels

inability to move the arms or legs

feelings of spreading numbness or tingling in
the extremities

unconsciousness

headache

pain, pressure, stiffness in the back or neck
area

signs of shock

unnatural positioning of the head

What
Should I Do If I Suspect a Spinal Cord Injury?

If you believe you or someone else has a spinal cord injury,
follow the procedure below:

Call 911 right away. The sooner medical help
arrives, the better.

Don’t move the person or disturb them in any way
unless it’s absolutely necessary. This includes repositioning the person’s head
or attempting to remove a helmet.

Encourage the person to stay as still as possible,
even if they feel they’re capable of getting up and walking on their own.

When the person arrives at the hospital, doctors will do a
physical and complete neurological exam. This will help them determine whether
there’s an injury to the spinal cord and where. CT scans, MRIs, X-rays of the
spine, and evoked potential testing (which measures how quickly nerve signals
reach the brain) are all diagnostic tools that doctors may use.

How
Can I Prevent Spinal Cord Injuries?

Because spinal cord injuries are often due to unpredictable
events, the best you can do is reduce your risk. Some risk-reducing measures
include:

always wearing a seatbelt while in a car

wearing proper protective gear while playing
sports

never diving into water unless you’ve examined
it first to make sure it’s deep enough and free of rocks

What
Is the Long-Term Outlook?

Some people lead full and productive lives after a spinal cord
injury. However, there are severe potential effects of a spinal cord injury.
The vast majority of people will need assistive devices such as walkers or
wheelchairs to deal with loss of mobility, and some may even be paralyzed from
the neck down.

You may need assistance with daily living activities and learn to
perform tasks differently. Pressure sores and urinary tract infections are
common complications. You also may expect to undergo intense rehabilitation
treatment for your spinal cord injury.